Telstra yesterday signaled a boost to its high-speed wireless internet ambitions with the announcement of a partnership with Nortel Networks to trial new data services in 2000.
Telstra will use Nortel Networks' CDMA Metro Cell base stations in the trial that is designed to demonstrate the ability of carriers to migrate to wireless Internet and data transmission services using cdma2000 third generation (3G) radio technology.cdma2000 is touted as the evolution of the current cdmaOne (IS-95 CDMA) digital wireless radio standard.
Meanwhile, the trial itself coincides with the ongoing construction of Telstra's nationwide cdmaOne network.
The two companies report the Telstra trial will support data services of up to 144 Kbit/sec (kbps), a figure 10 times higher than existing wireless data speeds.
The technology will give Telstra customers access to a range of multimedia services including rapid wireless Internet connection, Telstra executives said.
Lindsay Yelland, Telstra's group managing director, products and marketing, described the services as "critical for the future".
Telstra and Nortel made the announcement in conjunction with the first Australian CDMA International Summit here in Sydney.